What a crazy sequence that was to end the game. After everyone catches their breath and fully processed what just happened, let’s recap how the final 4.5 seconds of the game went:
Down 110-107, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the ball and nails a 31-foot heave of shot after just two seconds to tie the game and give the Thunder an improbable shot at a win. There was a lot of contact involved but no whistle was blown. With just 2.3 seconds left and the full court distance to go, most would assume that the game would go into overtime. But Devonte’ Graham had other thoughts.
The Pelicans would inbound the ball to Graham, who took one dribble and let go a 61-foot prayer that banked in. Much to the shocked faces of the Thunder players on the court, the game was over like that and there would be no OT.
THE ENDING TO THE PELICANS-THUNDER GAME 😱
DEVONTE' GRAHAM PAST HALF COURT FTW pic.twitter.com/KQDj7irO36
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 16, 2021
First off, this must be heartbreaking for the team to lose a game like this. Especially in the fashion of losing to the longest buzzer-beater in the NBA in 25 years. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault even mentioned after the game that the locker room was in shock still and the vibes from the players who spoke with media gave off the feeling that they were still processing what exactly just happened in that five second window.
It was a crazy finish that will probably go down as the most memorable five seconds of the NBA regular season this year. I know it’s still early and only December, but I think that is a fair bet to make.
With all that said, if fans were asked how a perfect Thunder game would play out before the season began, tonight’s game was the best example of it. All of the young players played well and played in a close, competitive — and most importantly — entertaining game while losing to a team that is a direct rival for lottery odds. Tonight could not have gone any better for the Thunder fanbase and its long term ambitions. It sounds backwards to say this, but considering the standings and the grim news the Pelicans received about Zion Williamson’s setback, losing tonight’s game was crucial if the Thunder are to end up with top three lottery odds.
Now, let’s take a look at some player grades.
